NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Team Kalitta has announced the addition of a third Funny Car with driver Paul Lee beginning at the NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway later this fall. Lee will campaign the McLeod Clutches Toyota Camry Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports for the last four events on the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Jim Oberhofer and Nicky Boninfante will combine for the tuning decisions on Lee’s Funny Car.

 

“I am beyond excited to be joining Kalitta Motorsports as part of their team,” said Lee, who has been driving Funny Cars for more than 25 years. “To be driving for Connie Kalitta and his awesome NHRA Drag Racing organization is something I’ve worked for and dreamed of my entire career. It will be an honor to drive a car tuned by Jim O and Nicky as well. The Kalitta team will give me a great car; it will be up to me to close the deal on Sunday. I look forward to that challenge and the opportunities that are ahead.”

 

The expansion will allow Kalitta Motorsports to run a fifth team for the first time in its history. Lee will be campaigning for a multicar team for the first time as he will join teammates Doug Kalitta, driver of the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster; J.R. Todd, driver of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster; Del Worsham, driver of the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car; and Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Tequila Patron Toyota Camry Funny Car in the field for the last four 2016 events. Lee will be piloting Worsham’s 2015 championship car with the DHL team acquiring a new Bounty Hunter chassis for the latter part of the season. He will own the equipment, but it will be run out of the Kalitta Motorsports Ypsilanti, Michigan-based shop.

 

“We are really pleased to be able to partner with Paul in this capacity,” said Oberhofer, vice president of operations, Kalitta Motorsports. “He will be owning equipment that is proven. It is a great way for Team Kalitta to expand business and get Paul to the track in a top-notch team at an affordable rate with an experienced crew.”

 

Lee, who resides in Orange County, Calif., is the president of McLeod Racing LLC, a global leader in automotive and clutch driveline technology based in Orange County. He started drag racing at age 18 in his home state of New Jersey. Lee drove Top Alcohol Funny Cars from 1988 until 2005 and won three NHRA national event titles and one divisional race. Lee stepped up to nitro Funny Cars in 2005 and has run as quick as 4.007 at nearly 318 mph in Chuck and Del Worsham’s Funny Car.